The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-01-12
Through the Judith.
MAIDEN.

the IGFJlIe country HtdI IOlt 4ho9 9llAlAAS'
Never in all Of my travels have met with
people who are SO thoroughly hopeful Of
the outlook for their camp. This region
has received backsets enough to discourage
a less resolute and sanguine people. The
troubles attendant upon the failure OF the
Collar mine cast gloom over the camp,
from which it seemed almost impossible to
emerge, but the people were equal to the
occasion, and new discoveries ofore, rich
in gold and silver, have made then. joyful.
The Maginnis company have sixty men
now at work, having struck rich body OF
ore. This company is also working the
ore from the Spotted Horse mine.
The Kentucky Favorite, owned by Mr..
Gardner, is now showing up rich in gold,
and if the ore taken out is one-haif as rich
as specimens which were shown nae indi-
cate. the fortune of Mr.. Gardner is assured.
DR.. Reed of Butte has purchased an inter-
est in the pet" formerly owned by Fort
Benton parties. The ore is being shipped
by express to Omaha. The doctor has
been in the camp experimenting the ship
ment Of the product. Other mines are
looking finely and a general good feeling
prevails, [ conversed with number of
the merchants and they say the prospects
were never brighter. Business is excel
lent and more goods are being sold this
winter than for number of seasons past.
Our old friend, n. 7. Dinsmore, has a
monopoly in the clothing business and is
doing well. Louis Belanger and Chas.
Boissonneault do the principal business of
the general store; each Of them are carry
ing fine assortments of goods. Mr.. Be
langer has made many improvements,
having removed into his new stone store.
The building would be an ornament to any
community. His old store is used for
dry goods especially, and Mrs. Belanger
has the exclusive charge of this depart
ment Frank Lampman is landlord Of
the International hotel and from appear
ances is doing land office business. He
is good fellow and [ can safely say that
the pilgrim from Fort Benton will fare
we'll at his hands. Mr. L. Poland is the
successor of Groesbeck & Poland, hard
ware merchants. The firm was dissolved
some time ago. Mr.. Groesbeck going to
Jefferson county. Maiden certainly has
q bright future before it.
LEw1sTowN.
Lewistown, the county seat of Fergus
70
appearance. Several new buildings have
been erected since my last visit there,
something over a year ago. Instead Of
one store there are number Of them. w.
w. Dewitt, formerly of Cottonwood, is
engaged in the dry goods business. N.
M. Erickson. the representative Of L. 9.
Power & Bro, has the most attractive
store in the Judith basin. Mr., Brereton
attends to the office, while Geo. Weideman
occupies position behind the counter, |
and can sell side of bacon or measure a
yard of silk equal to any one. j. O. Gil
kerson, Dan Crowly, Capt. Sears and
Nelse Jansen have each of them finely fit
ted up saloons and judging from appear
ances are all doing WE'LL the hotels are
we'll patronized. The Day house was re-
moved last summer from Reeds Fort. It
has lost none of its old time popularity, |
and is now conducted under the firm
name of Holzemer & Day, Mr.. Holzemer
having charge of the business, while Mrs.
Day superintends the house. The Lewis
town hotel, VIM. Hortop proprietor, has
been newly fitted up. Mr.. Hortop is
popular landlord.
j. O. Gilkerson has rented his elegant
new residence for county offices, and the
officers by this time are in complete pos
session, VIII Kelly, the popular county
clerk, has offices on the lower floor; Dan
iel Meagher, probate judge, on the second
floor. AT the time of my visit the other
officers had not yet selected. quarters, al
though the assessor, Mike Gurnette, was
in town. Frank E. Smith, county attor-
ney, has removed from Cottonwood and
when his new law office is fitted up he
will haze as fine quarters as any officer in
Fergus county. VIM. Beck, the sheriff,
was at Helena after the Indian prisoners
from Fort Shaw. Jack Arnold is under
sheriff and will make a most efficient off,
Ger. In few months at least Fergus
county will have a court house and per-
abiding place for its officers.
That live and well conducted paper, the
Fergus County Argus, has its home at
Lewistown. At present their quarters,
owing to the increase Of business since the
removal of the county seat, are somewhat.
cramped, but it is thought another season
will see them in new and commodious
Office. was informed that their business
is steadily increasing and the proprietors, !,
Messrs. Fell& Vroman, are pleased with the
change from Maiden. The circulation of
the Argus is general throughout the Ju-